CM Quickfire Pro Red?

[garath]

First time poster but lurked without registering forever.

I'm strongly considering picking up this keyboard. I've been waiting for a good price on a cherry my red mechanical keyboard and this seems like a pretty good price.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823129008

CM Quickfire Pro Cherry MX red. $75 on promo right now - $60 after a $15 rebate. Best price I've seen since the holidays.

Yay or nay? The only cons I see with this board are a stubborn USB port and only half the keyboard is backlit.

I think my first choice would be a Quickfire TK red but I haven't been able to find one for a similar price. Amazon doesn't even carry the red.

I want to keep the tenkey as I don't think I'd feel right without it. For my gaming setup I keep my keyboard on the main desk and my mouse on the keyboard tray anyways.

 

[Skull_Angel]

The build quality on the CMstorm Quickfire Pros has been noted to feel cheap compared to other similarly priced boards, but for being manufactured by iOne the only prevalent issue with it seems to be the durability of the Micro USB port (which is more or less a common issue with all boards that have the removable cable layout). Personally, I'd wait for for the TK if you've been eyeballing it or you're just going to end up buying it later, lol.

the PLUM 96 has a similar layout to the Quickfire TK with standard bottom row keys; it is PCB mounted, but if you ever plan to mess with switch modding it can make the process simpler. The only problem is that you'd probably need to go through an agent (taobao) to purchase one.

 

[verylostindeed]

I have this guy but in the Cherry MX Brown model. Had it for about six months or so and haven't had any issues. I've been very pleased with it overall.

 

[dragonstongue]

I still use my Ideazon Merc keyboard to this day, love it, take some getting used to, and it lasts a long time. I believe it will be 7 years now I have been using it, and there is only a little bit of fading letters happening, but barely. Nothing fancy, it just works. Great for gaming, and also very good I find for typing once you get used to it. The newer one the Merc Stealth is no nearly the same, looks similar, but beyond fancy features I have heard the keys wear out faster, the lettering wears out quite fast, only the lit keys are nice apprently.

anyways, sorry to derail

 

[bendic]

The build quality on the CMstorm Quickfire Pros has been noted to feel cheap compared to other similarly priced boards, but for being manufactured by iOne the only prevalent issue with it seems to be the durability of the Micro USB port (which is more or less a common issue with all boards that have the removable cable layout). Personally, I'd wait for for the TK if you've been eyeballing it or you're just going to end up buying it later, lol.
.......

But the usb port of the keyboard is recessed so there isn't any danger of the socket being knocked about is there?

 

[Fritingo]

But the usb port of the keyboard is recessed so there isn't any danger of the socket being knocked about is there?

I've no memory of ever seeing a USB port that sticks out...heh.

The potential issues are through the cable & plug connected to the port. Pulling on them inadvertently and/or just the simple stress of the cable sitting or hanging immobile from the port can cause issues with lower quality ones. As well as connecting/disconnecting the plug if you move the keyboard around a lot.

That's not to say all detachable keyboard cable ports are troublesome, of course. For example, IBM Model Ms with a port for a detachable PS/2 cable were built like a rock (I had one ).

And yah, spending less on the Pro gets you a keyboard made by the sometimes questionable iOne. If you want a higher quality Costar-made CM board with Red key switches, the easiest to find is the $110 Trigger. Edit: you might find one with a "$30 rebate card" ($80 end cost) elsewhere .

 

[garath]

I've no memory of ever seeing a USB port that sticks out...heh.

The potential issues are through the cable & plug connected to the port. Pulling on them inadvertently and/or just the simple stress of the cable sitting or hanging immobile from the port can cause issues with lower quality ones. As well as connecting/disconnecting the plug if you move the keyboard around a lot.

That's not to say all detachable keyboard cable ports are troublesome, of course. For example, IBM Model Ms with a port for a detachable PS/2 cable were built like a rock (I had one ).

And yah, spending less on the Pro gets you a keyboard made by the sometimes questionable iOne. If you want a higher quality Costar-made CM board with Red key switches, the easiest to find is the $110 Trigger. Edit: you might find one with a "$30 rebate card" ($80 end cost) elsewhere .

I do like the features and build quality (Costar) on the trigger a lot, but the looks leave a little to be desired for me. I know it's silly but the silver faceplate with the red accents and the more "gamer-esque" accents are a little bit of a turn off.

I prefer something a little more subtle and despite owning a G15 for the last 5+ years, I've never once touched a macro key lol.

The price is pretty good on the Pro though. $60 AR is hard to pass up even if I'm gambling with iOne and dealing with half a backlit keyboard. I guess short of waiting on a Rosewill sale, I'm unlikely to find a straightforward cherry MX red keyboard for under $80 if I don't jump on the Quickfire Pro.

Edit: and in a nice turn, Amazon has price matched Newegg and has a bigger ($20) rebate, so the end price would be $55. I'm thinking it's hard to pass this up.

edit2: Well I decided to do it. Bought it from Amazon with the $20 rebate. Total cost AR will be $55. Great price. With my prime shipping it should be here Friday.

Thanks for the input all!

 

[Skull_Angel]

I've no memory of ever seeing a USB port that sticks out...heh.

The potential issues are through the cable & plug connected to the port. Pulling on them inadvertently and/or just the simple stress of the cable sitting or hanging immobile from the port can cause issues with lower quality ones. As well as connecting/disconnecting the plug if you move the keyboard around a lot.

That's not to say all detachable keyboard cable ports are troublesome, of course. For example, IBM Model Ms with a port for a detachable PS/2 cable were built like a rock (I had one ).

Yeah, it's not really a manufacture problem, it's more like a design flaw; if the Mirco USB port isn't soldered on correctly, stress will eventually cause problems. This has been noted to happen with all product types that have used Micro USB ports; it's not a huge issue and doesn't show on decently constructed products most of the time, but it can happen.